Migrating your Configurable App to an Instant App Webinar Recording and Questions

Beth_Romero

ArcGIS Configurable Apps: How to Prepare for the Upcoming Retirement webinar recording and slides are now available. In addition to the recording, below are questions from the webinar.  

 

• I currently have an app using WebApp builder with an edit function. What instant app do you recommend transitioning to?
  • Sidebar would be a good app to transition to. Batch editing is the only editing capability not available yet in Sidebar or any other apps built on the 4.x Maps SDK for JavaScript.
• Is the ArcGIS online web app builder considered a configurable app?
  • No, WebApp Builder is not an ArcGIS Configurable App. It is built using the 3.x Maps SDK for JavaScript, so like ArcGIS Configurable Apps, they will also be retiring. https://doc.arcgis.com/en/web-appbuilder/latest/create-apps/wab-retirement.htm#ESRI_SECTION1_CE2FC8C713034DE89C9618FBFFA609C3  
• How often do patches come out for Maps SDK for JavaScript?
  • The 4.x Maps SDK for JavaScript is updated three times a year in ArcGIS Online. This includes new features and bug fixes.
• Is there a way to see which apps are "configurable apps" in the "content" tab? (Similar to how you can see "Instant App" listed)
  • Yes, it is not as straightforward as filtering Instant Apps but it can be done. In the content page search for:  -typekeywords: “ConfigurableApp” and filter the items by Apps > Web apps.

 

 

• To clarify , will the old apps stop working after June 2025? One of the ones I have was retired several years ago and still works.
  • Yes, apps using any templates listed here will no longer work after June 2025.
• Will there be additional webinars and trainings to address this change from configurable apps to Instant Apps?
  • In addition to this webinar, additional resources will be shared through Esri Community and blogs to support the migration from Configurable Apps to Instant Apps.
• Is Reporter available for Enterprise or is it only AGOL?
  • The Report Instant Apps template is currently available in ArcGIS Online and will be available in ArcGIS Enterprise in the 11.4 release.
• Are there tools to convert a Configurable App to an Instant App?
  • No, you will need to manually create a new Instant Apps template that will replace an existing ArcGIS Configurable App.
• Are we better off using Experience Builder or Instant Apps moving forward.  What is the difference?
  • Experience Builder and ArcGIS Instant Apps are both App builders. ArcGIS Instant Apps are a quick way to create a web app that allows users to share their maps and data. For more information on differences between the app builders please reference this blog: https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/apps/announcements/which-app-builder-do-i-choose/?srsltid=AfmBOor330xygMPR7MYmifCEm-d9V3H7F0L9BLffV6TkLloDtXVFBncF
• Does the language switcher make translations to data embedded in popups? (see below graphic)
  • The language switcher component in Instant Apps does not translate popups or data in the map, but there are ways to do this through Arcade, and then the language switcher will support it. For more information, visit this blog.
• My understanding was that Web Experience Builder was replacing Web App Builder. So, are both items going away?
  • Experience Builder and ArcGIS Instant Apps are built on the 4.x Maps SDK for Javascript. Apps like WebApp Builder and ArcGIS Configurable Apps built on the 3.x Maps SDK for Javascript will be retired in 2025.
• We currently use WebApp Builder which has an &find and zoom to function for search. For instance, we can click on a property through our system and will go directly to that property on the map. Is that available with an Instant Apps
  • Yes, there is an instant app that will find the searched or clicked property and zoom to that location and open the pop-up. This template is the Zone Lookup Instant App. For additional examples of the Zone Lookup template, visit the example gallery in the documentation.
• Can you allow the user to switch from light and dark mode by themselves?
  • This is an option that app authors can change while configuring their Instant Apps templates. https://doc.arcgis.com/en/instant-apps/latest/customize/theme-layout-settings.htm
• Is there an app that can host a geoprocessing service like the GP Widget in the WebApp Builder?
  • This is not available in ArcGIS Instant Apps. This is available in Experience Builder. https://doc.arcgis.com/en/experience-builder/latest/configure-widgets/analysis-widget.htm